Safety belt buckle



Oct. 11, 1966 R. c. FISHER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 INVENTOR. FaZcrZ df/ i v BY I Oct. 11, 1966 R. c. FISHER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1965 United States Patent f 3,277,548 SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Robert C. Fisher, 580 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 329,174 11 Claims. (Cl. 24-430) This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Serial No. 207,262 filed July 3, 1962, now Patent No. 3,131,451, for Safety Belt Buckle and discloses an improvement over the safety belt buckle disclosed therein.

This invention relates generally to buckles, and more particularly to an improved buckle for automobile type safety belts.

The safety belt buckle of the instant invention sets a new standard in ease of manufacture and assembly, smoothness of operation, and appearance. Since safety belt buckles are either disposed in a motorists lap in the coupled condition or when not being used, are carried on the automobile seat, it is desirable for such buckles to have relatively clean and smooth exterior surfaces, devoid of projections and apertures. Projections or apertures on the buckle are apt to snag clothing, seats, etc.

Accordingly, one object of the instant invention is a buckle for a safety belt that is relatively clean, smooth and devoid of projecting parts or apertures so as to minimize the possibility of catching and tearing clothing, seats, etc.

It is of course desirable for a safety belt buckle to have a minimum number of components and for these components to be retained in positive rattle free association.

Accordingly, the belt buckle of the instant invention features a novel spring that serves a multiplicity of functions. The spring serves to bias a latch into locking engagement with a complementary belt tongue. The spring also serves to strip the tongue from the latch plate upon opening movement of the buckle handle. Furthermore the spring maintains a positive bias on both the operating handle and latch to preclude rattle and vibration thereof.

Another object is an improved multi-purpose spring for a safety belt buckle.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the safety belt buckle of the instant invention with the tongue removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is -a side elevational view of the safety belt buckle of the instant invention with the tongue assembled therewith;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the safety belt buckle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with the tongue engaged within the buckle; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the release handle and latch plate rotated to the release condition.

As best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, a safety belt buckle 10, in accordance with the exemplary constructed embodiment of the instant invention, comprises a base 12, a latch plate 14, a latch spring 16, a handle 18, a belt bar 20 and a rear slide 22. The foregoing components are assembled in interlocking relationship on the base 12 and are self-retained in the assembled condition, as will be described.

A tongue 30 (FIGURE 1) is adapted to be releasably accepted and retained within the buckle 10. One end '34 of a belt portion 36 is adapted to be adjustably looped 3,277,548 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 around the 'bar 20 and an end 37 of a belt portion 38 is secured to the tongue 30 as by stitching designated by the numeral 39.

As best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the base 12 of the buckle 10 is of channel-like lateral cross sectional configuration defined by a Web portion 40 with upstanding flange portions 42 and 44 at the opposite edges thereof. The flange portions 42 and 44 of the base 12 have inward -ly folded edges 46 and 48 thereon, respectively, that extend generally parallel to the web portion 40 thereof.

The web portion 40 of the base 12 has a reentrantly folded latch retainer 50 at one end thereof that pivotally accepts an end portion 52 of the latch plate 14. The latch plate 14 is both supported for rotation relative to the base 12 and retained against movement outwardly of the base 12 by the retainer portion 50 thereof.

The latch plate 14 has a latch face 54 on an offset portion 56 that is engageable with a complementary latch surface 58 on the periphery of an aperture 60 in the tongue 30 to effect lock-ing of the tongue 30 within the buckle 10.

The latch plate 14 is normally biased toward the latched condition by the spring 16, one end portion 62 of which is disposed about the offset portion 56 of the latch plate 14.

The end portion 62 of the spring 16 is secured to a laterally extending portion 64 which in turn is connected to a pair of longitudinally extending side portions 66 and 68. A normally folded portion 70 joins the side portions 66 and '68 thereby to form what amounts to an open rectangle comprising the portions 64, 66, 68 and 70. In accordance with one feature of the instant invention, a pair of reentr-antly folded fingers 72 and 74 extend from the lateral portion 64 and extend generally parallel to the side portions 66 and 68, respectively, for engagement with the handle portion 18, thereby to maintain a constant bias on the handle 18 to preclude it from rattling.

In accordance with another feature of the instant invention the spring 16 has an upstanding latch plate stripper portion 76 on the opposite side of the lateral portion 64 thereof from the portion 62. The stripper portion 76 effects engagement with the underside of the tongue 30 when the latch plate 14 is biased to the release condition by the handle 18, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The handle 18 has an offset portion 80 that substantially closes the top of the buckle 10. The offset portion 80 of the handle 18 has a pair of ears 82 and 84 that are accepted under the flanges 46 and 48 in generally parallel relation, respectively, to retain the handle 18 in the position shown in the drawings.

As can best be seen by comparing FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the handle 18 pivots against the underside of the folded edge portions 46 and 48 on the base 12, so as to bring an edge portion 86 thereof into engagement with an inner end portion 88 of the latch plate 14, thereby to cam the latch plate 14 about the latch retainer 50 on the base 12 toward the open condition.

As discussed in said co-pending application Serial No. 207,262 the slide 22 carries the belt bar 20 about which the end 34 of the belt portion 36 is looped. The slide 22 and belt bar 20 are constructed as set forth in said c0- pending application, the sole difference therein being that a front lip 90 on the slide 22 engages behind the flange 70 on the spring 16 which in turn is engaged behind a pair of projections 92 and 94 (FIG. 4) on the flanges 46 and 48 on the base 12 to retain the slide 22 thereon.

The seat belt buckle 10 of the instant invention is assembled by first engaging the cars 82 and 84 on the handle 18 under the edge portions 46 and 48 thereof, respectively. The ears 82 and 84 on the handle 18 are accepted between the projections 92 and 94 and a pair of elongated ears 96 and 98 on the flanges 46 and 48, re-

spectively. The end portion 62 of the latch spring 16 is then engaged about the offset portion 56 of the latch plate 14. The assembled latch plate 14 and spring 16 are then inserted under the edge portions 46 and 48 of the base 12, and moved from the left to the right inwardly of the base 12, as seen in FIGS. 4-7 of the drawings, to the position shown in FIGS. 5-7 of the drawings. It is to be noted that a pair of notches 100 and 102 in the portion 70 of the spring 16 permit passage of the spring 16 past the projections 92 and 94 on the base 12. The portion 70 of the spring has to be moved away from the web portion 40 of the base 12 against its normal bias to allow the projections 92 and 94 to pass through the apertures 100 and 102 whereupon the spring 16 snaps to the condition shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The bar 20 is next assembled with the slide 22 and the end 34 of the belt portion 36 is inserted through the slot in the base 12, thence about the bar 20. The assembled bar, slide 22 and end 34 of the belt portion 36 is then inserted into the open end of the base 12 from the left, as seen in the drawings. The assembled slide 22 and bar 20 are moved inwardly of the base 12 until the lip portion 90 of the slide 22 snaps over the ears 92 and 94 on the base 12 and transverse portion 70 of the spring 16. The dimensional relationship of the lip portion 90 and the ears 92 and 94 is such that resilience of the slide 22 accommodates the aforementioned snapping of the lip portion 90 thereover. After the slide 22 is moved to the assembled condition, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the edge or lip portion 90 precludes disassembly of the slide 22 from the base 12.

Lengthening of the belt 36 is effected by movement of the slide 22 inwardly of the base 12 and tilting of the buckle relative to the end 34 of the belt portion 36. When the belt buckle 10 is so tilted and the slide 22 is moved inwardly as by a longitudinal squeeze, the belt 36 can be lengthened with one hand by merely pulling on the buckle 10. It is also to be noted that by gripping the buckle 10 at opposite ends thereof in order to lengthen the belt 36, the slide 22 is moved to the release position. Shortening of the belt portion 36 is effected by merely pulling on the top or free end 34 of the belt portion 36.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the belt buckle 10 of the instant invention is relatively clean and entirely free of protruding components and apertures. Thus, the buckle 10 does not snag on clothing or seat upholstery or otherwise present sharp surfaces that might limit use of the buckle 10.

With respect to the spring 16, as best seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings, the angular relationship between the portions 66 and 68 thereof and the reentrantly folded end portion 62 is such that the portion 64 thereof exerts a constant clockwise bias on the latch plate 14.

The spring 16 serves another function since the stripper portion 76 thereof is engageable with the tongue 30 upon opening movement of the handle 18 and latch plate 14 to strip the latch surface 58 of the tongue 30 off from the latch face 54 of the latch plate 14 and thereby permit disassembly of the buckle 10.

As seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the transverse portion 70 of the spring 16, which is folded normally to the portions 66 and 68 thereof, is bowed to the right. Thus the transverse portion 70 is normally engageable with the portion 80 of the handle 18 to bias it to the right as seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 against the ears 96 and 98 on the edge portions 46 and 48, respectively, of the base 12. In this manner the spring 16 precludes rattle of the handle 18 due to vibratory movement thereof parallel to the web portion 40 of the base 12 as well as to take up tolerance errors between these components.

Yet another feature of the multipurpose spring 16 is that the finger portions 72 and 74 thereof maintain a constant bias on the portion 80 of the handle 18 both to bias it to the closed condition shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 and preclude rattle of the handle due to vibratory movement thereof normal to the Web portion 40 of the base 12.

Another feature of the spring 16 is that the fingers 72 and 74 exert a relatively stronger bias on the handle 18 than the portion 64 of the spring 16 exerts on the latch plate 14, as discussed hereinbefore. This differential in bias is desirable since latching of the tongue 30 against the bias of the spring 16 should be relatively easy whereas opening of the handle 18 to effect release of the tongue 30 should be relatively hard thereby to preclude spurious uncoupling thereof.

The spring 16 serves yet another function in that it retains the latch plate 14 and handle 18 in the assembled condition relative to the base 12. As discussed hereinbefore, the handle 18 is first assembled onto the base 12, then the spring 16 and latch plate 14 are slidably engaged under the handle 18. In order to effect passage of the transverse portion 70 of the spring 16 past the projections 92 and 94 on the edge portions 46 and 48, respectively, of the base 12, the transverse portion 70 is biased upwardly, as seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings, as by a screwdriver or the like, until the notches 100 and 102 on opposite sides thereof register with the projections 92 and 94, whereupon the spring 16 and latch plate 14 are moved further to the right until the transverse portion 70 clears the projections 92 and 94. The inherent resil ience of the spring 16 is such that the transverse portion 70 thereof is biased against the web portion 40 of the base 12 upon clearing the projections 92 and 94 locking the portion 70 therebehind. When the portion 70 is so locked behind the projections 92 and 94 it retains both the latch plate 14 and handle 18 against movement to the left as seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7. Also the portion 70 serves as a latching surface for the lip on the slide 22 when it is assembled onto the base 12 as discussed hereinbefore.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the improved safety belt buckle herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having -a web portion with upstanding flange portions on opposite sides thereof and a reentrantly folded end portion,

a latch plate pivotally supported by the reentrantly folded portion of said base member having a latch portion thereon,

resilient means between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base,

a release handle pivotally supported by the flange portions of said base member for rotation between an open and closed condition, said handle being engageable with said latch plate to effect rotation thereof against the bias of resilient means, and

a belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with the latch portion of said latch plate,

said resilient means having a portion engageable with said handle to normally bias said handle to the closed condition to preclude rattle thereof.

2. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate pivoted in said retaining means having an aperture therein defining a latch face,

a spring for normally biasing said latch plate in one direction relative to said base,

a pivoted release handle engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof in another direction against the bias of said spring, and

a belt tongue having a latch surface engageable with the latch on said latch plate,

said spring having a portion extending through the aperture in said latch plate so as to be engageable with said tongue to preclude movement thereof in said another direction upon movement of said latch plate in said another direction under the bias of said handle.

3. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate having an aperture therein defining a latch face, said latch plate being disposed between the web portion and edge portions of said base,

resilient means between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base,

a release handle pivotally supported by the edge portions, of said base member for rotation between the open and closed conditions, said handle being engageable with said latch plate upon movement to the open condition to effect movement thereof against the bias of said resilient means, and

a belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with the latch onsaid latch plate,

said resilient means having a portion extending through the aperture in said latch plate so as to be engageable with said tongue. to preclude movement thereof upon movement of said latch plate towards the web portion of said base under the bias of said handle and a portion engageable with said handle to normally bias said handle to the closed condition.

4. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate having an aperture therein defining a latch surface, said latch plate being disposed between the web portion and edge portions of said base,

resilient means between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base,

a release handle pivotally supported by the edge portions of said base member and engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof against the bias of said resilient means, and

a belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with the latch on said latch plate,

said resilient means having a portion extending through the aperture in said latch plate so as to be engageable with said tongue to preclude movement thereof upon movement of said latch plate towards the web portion of said base under the bias of said handle thereby to effect disassociation of said belt tongue from said latch plate.

5. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

a latch plate pivotally supported by said base member,

a spring having a first portion for normally biasing said latch plate in one direction relative to said base member,

a release handle pivotally supported by said base member and engageable with said latch plate to effect rotation thereof in another direction against the bias of said spring, and

a belt tongue engageable with said latch plate,

said spring having a second portion engageable with said release handle for biasing said release handle in a direction generally parallel to the bias of the first portion thereof on said latch and a third portion engageable with said release handle for biasing said handle in a direction generally normal to the bias of the second portion of said spring on said latch plate thereby to maintain a positive bias on said handle to preclude rattle thereof.

6. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

a latch plate pivotally supported by said base member,

a spring having a first portion for normally biasing said latch plate in one direction relative to said base member,

a release handle pivotally supported by said base member and engageable with said latch plate to effect rotation thereof in another direction against the bias of said spring, and

a belt tongue engageable with said latch plate, said spring having a second portion engageable with said release handle and exerting a relatively stronger bias than said first portion on said release handle in a direction generally parallel to the bias of said spring on said latch and a third portion engageable with said release handle for biasing said handle in a direction generally normal to the bias of said spring on said latch plate.

7. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a flat web portion with means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate against relative movement in one direction,

a latch plate pivoted in said retaining means,

a spring having a bowed portion seated on the web portion of said base member for normally biasing said latch plate in a direction normal to said one direction,

a pivoted release handle engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof against the bias of said spring, and

means supported by said base engageable with said handle for precluding movement thereof in said one direction,

said spring having a portion extending transversely of said base and generally normal to the web portion thereof and engageable with both said handle and latch plate to limit movement thereof in a direction opposite to said one direction.

8. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof with inturned edge portions extending in spaced general-1y parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having means at one end thereof for pivotally supporting and retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate disposed between the web portion and edge portions of said base,

resilient means between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base, and

a release handle pivotally supported in spaced generally parallel relation to the web portion of said base member for rotation between the open and closed conditions, said handle being engageable with said latch plate upon movement to the open condition to effect movement thereof against the bias of said resilient means, said resilient means having a portion engageable with said handle for limiting movement thereof towards the other end of said base.

9. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

a latch plate pivotally supported by said base member,

a spring having a first portion for normally biasing said latch plate in one direction relative to said base member,

a release handle pivotally supported by said base member and engageable with said latch plate to effect rotation thereof in another direction against the bias of said spring, and

a belt tongue engageable with said latch plate,

said spring having a pair of resilient fingers engageable with said release handle and exerting a relatively stronger bias thereon than the first portion of said spring on said latch plate, the fingers on said spring biasing said handle in a direction generally parallel to the bias of said spring on said latch, said spring having a third portion engageable with said release handle for biasing said bundle in a direction generally normal to the 'bias thereof on said latch plate.

10. A safety belt buckle comprising a channel shaped base member defined by a substantially planerweb portion and a pair of normally orientated generally parallel flanges on opposite sides of the Web portions having inwardly directed edge portions extending in spaced parallel relation to the web portion thereof, respectively, said base member having means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate against relative movement in one direction and projection means on the edge portions thereof for retaining a spring,

a spring normally biasing said latch plate in a direction normal to said one direction,

a release handle pivotally engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof against the bias of said spring, and

means engageable with said handle for concomittantly supporting said handle for rotation and precluding movement thereof in said one direction,

said spring having a portion extending generally normally to and self biased against the web portion of said base and engageable with the projections thereon to preclude spurious disassembly of said buckle, the normally extending portion of said spring having apertures thereon for the clearance of the projections on said base when the spring is moved again-st its normal bias to facilitate assembly of said buckle.

11. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

a latch plate pivotally supported by said base member,

a spring having a portion for normally biasing said latch plate in one direction relative to said base member,

a pivoted release handle engageable with said latch plate to effect rotation thereof in another direction against the bias of said spring, and

a belt tongue engageable with said latch plate,

said spring having a second portion extending generally normal to said base and engageable with the underside only of said belt tongue for independently biasing said tongue only in a direction generally parallel to the bias of said spring on said latch.

References Cited by the Examiner BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, WILLIAM FELDMAN,

Examiners. 

1. A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A WEB PORTION WITH UPSTANDING FLANGE PORTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND A REENTRANTLY FOLDED END PORTION, A LATCH PLATE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE REENTRANTLY FOLDED PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A LATCH PORTION THEREON, RESILIENT MEANS BETWEEN THE WEB PORTION OF SAID BASE AND SAID LATCH PLATE FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAID LATCH PLATE AWAY FROM THE WEB PORTION OF SAID BASE, A RELEASE HANDLE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE FLANGE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE MEMBER FOR ROTATION BETWEEN AN OPEN AND CLOSED CONDITION, SAID HANDLE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH PLATE TO EFFECT ROTATION THEREOF AGAINST THE BIAS OF RESILIENT MEANS, AND A BELT TONGUE INSERTABLE BETWEEN SAID LATCH PLATE AND HANDLE HAVING A LATCH SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LATCH PORTION OF SAID LATCH PLATE, SAID RESILIENT MEANS HAVING A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HANDLE TO NORMALLY BIAS SAID HANDLE TO THE CLOSED CONDITION TO PRECLUDE RATTLE THEREOF. 